Wednesday, August 6, 2014

There is Nothing Like Looking, If You Want to Find Free Fiction

In a hole in the ground there lived a bookworm. Not a nasty, dirty, wet
hole, filled with the ends of snakes and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry,
bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to read or sit down on: it was a bookworm-hole, and that means free fiction.

Fiction

• At HiLobrow: "King Goshawk - Part 32" by Eimar O'Duffy. Science Fiction.
"Having shaken off his guide, Cuanduine passed out of the city and came presently to a grove not far off, wherein an army of workmen had just finished erecting a hugh pyre of logs over tar-barrels. A hundred and fifty feet square it was at the base, and forty feet high, and it was overtopped by an earthen ramp over a mile in length. Just as Cuanduine arrived torches were put to the tar, and flames two hundred feet high shot up into the sky."

• At Tor.com: "In the Sight of Akresa" by Ray Wood. Fantasy.
"Claire’s lover has no tongue. A slave liberated from a heathen temple, Aya cannot tell the story of her stolen voice, or of her and Claire’s unfolding love. She cannot speak her pain, her joy, or her sorrow. And if she sees that which eludes the blind goddess of justice, she cannot bear witness. 'In the Sight of Akresa' is a tragic fantasy romance from debut author Ray Wood."

"My husband is stark and bold. When that he slew the dragon on the
mountain, he bathed him in its blood; wherefore no weapon can pierce
him. Nevertheless, when he rideth in battle, and spears fly from the
hands of heroes, I tremble lest I lose him. Alack! for Siegfried's sake
how oft have I been heavy of my cheer! And now, dear cousin, I will
trust thee with the secret, and tell thee, that thou mayst prove thy
faith, where my husband may be wounded. For that I know thee honourable,
I do this. When the hot blood flowed from the wound of the dragon, and
Siegfried bathed therein, there fell atween his shoulders the broad leaf
of a lime tree. There one might stab him, and thence is my care and
dole."

Gaming

• At WotC: "D&D Basic Rules." Fantasy.
"The Basic Rules for Dungeons & Dragons is a PDF (over 100 pages, in fact) that covers the core of the game. It runs from levels 1 to 20 and covers the cleric, fighter, rogue, and wizard, presenting what we view as the essential subclass for each. It also provides the dwarf, elf, halfling, and human as race options; in addition, the rules contain 120 spells, 5 backgrounds, and character sheets." A good way to look at the upcoming fifth addition, but not really a complete game. With no monsters, you would have to fudge quite a bit to actually play. It's been out awhile but free is free.